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Survival variability and population density in fish populations

Author

Listed:
  • Coilín Minto

    (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1, Canada)

  • Ransom A. Myers
  • Wade Blanchard

    (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, Canada)

Abstract

Fish numbers: feel the noise Population sizes of insects, fish, birds and mammals vary greatly from year to year. This variability has often been seen as mere 'noise', an obstacle to unravelling the underlying abundance patterns. This has lead to divergent theories as to whether population growth will decrease at large numbers because of limited resources. Minto et al. adopt a novel approach to the problem by focusing on the very patterns of variability that were previously thought of as an obstacle. There should be patterns discernible in the variable data, the thinking goes, if populations are regulated according to their size. The assumption is supported by a study of a global database of fish species. The predictions relate to all population sizes and reveal, in particular, that variance continues to increase the lower the population size becomes. Focusing solely on the average numbers of a population will miss this fact, and increase the risk of numbers plummeting to extinction.

Suggested Citation

  • Coilín Minto & Ransom A. Myers & Wade Blanchard, 2008. "Survival variability and population density in fish populations," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7185), pages 344-347, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7185:d:10.1038_nature06605
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06605
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    Cited by:

    1. Mackinson, S. & Daskalov, G. & Heymans, J.J. & Neira, S. & Arancibia, H. & Zetina-Rejón, M. & Jiang, H. & Cheng, H.Q. & Coll, M. & Arreguin-Sanchez, F. & Keeble, K. & Shannon, L., 2009. "Which forcing factors fit? Using ecosystem models to investigate the relative influence of fishing and changes in primary productivity on the dynamics of marine ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(21), pages 2972-2987.
    2. Vélez-Espino, Luis A. & Koops, Marten A., 2012. "Capacity for increase, compensatory reserves, and catastrophes as determinants of minimum viable population in freshwater fishes," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 319-326.

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